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Date:         Sun, 3 Sep 2000 14:33:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Richard Ferguson <fergusrh@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Ferguson <fergusrh@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Finding a Good Repair Shop
Comments: To: Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I am also frustrated by this situation here in Richmond, Va. Both local independent VW shops have proved themselves untrustworthy. I am left to find another shop that does different kinds of foriegn cars as well, (some of these, however, will not work on a Wasserboxer), or go to the dealer. My problem needs a specific diagnosis and is power related... I am dreading going into this as the expense for my beloved vanagon is becoming chronic...even my gf now wants me to get a different vehicle. Is the dealer going to be all that bad??? Any advice or recommendations for shops in the Richmond area will be appreciated, Rick 85 Westie 2.1 upgrade

--- Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET> wrote: > good points, mark. I have basically one choice here in Hilo... > Bear's VW. > Fortunately, Bear is a very nice guy and his shop does good, and, for > the > most part, reasonably priced service. At least they know what > they're > doing. > There isn't even a VW dealership on this side of the island! But > then, in > some ways, maybe that's a good thing. > > Mick Kalber > 89 Syncro Westy "Daddy-O" > Tropical Visions Video, Inc. > 62 Halaulani Place Hilo, Hawaii 96720 > ph. 808-935-5557 fax 808-935-0066 > hotlava@interpac.net > www.volcanoscapes.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On > Behalf > Of Mark Drillock > Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2000 10:29 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Finding a Good Repair Shop > > > I have to disagree on some of this. Some of the cleanest shops I have > used did crappy work or even cheated me. Some of my best long term > relationships were with shops that could be called messy or ugly. > Shops > that have been in the same place a very long time are in older > buildings > and have many years of residue built up. This should hardly > disqualify > them. The newest guy on the block will have the cleanest shop but no > way > does that mean he will do the best job. His rent may be higher and he > may have recent investments he is looking to recover quickly. It all > boils down to the guys doing the work. I have had guys I trusted for > several years sell to new owners and the shop's work went down hill. > I > have listened to owners brag about the qualifications and > certifications > of the mechanics only to see short cuts and overcharging. The advice > to > talk to the guys and get a gut feeling is the best advice IMHO. > Referrals are ok but some people can't tell that they have been > screwed > or rave about a place they only used once several years back. Places > with service writers tend to charge more and bump up the cost of the > job > as it goes as the mechanic finds other problems. An owner who > actually > does some of the work is preferable in my experience. The trick is to > find an honest guy and let him know that you will reward good work > with > future business. John is right that shopping for a low hourly rate is > counter productive. Quality costs money. > > Mark > > John Wessels wrote: > > > > Hello Volks, > > > > It amazes me this list. There is so much available information and > knowledge > > exchanged on a daily basis. From what tires to buy to how to remedy > the > loss > > of power and bucking after driving for two hours. > > > > However the one topic that many can't seem to master is selecting a > good > > repair shop. I see a few people ask who is decent in their area. I > also > know > > that people tend to complain rather than praise. > > > > Many tend to get on the telephone and the only question they ask is > "how > > much?". Or they may ask "what is your labor rate." Vary rarely do > they > take > > the time to interview a repair shop personally. The following are > some > > procedures and questions you should ask when your car needs repair. > > > > First call the prospective shop and ask for a time that you may > come by to > > talk about getting some needed repairs done. Go to the shop > personally and > > take a look around. > > > > What is the shape of the cars in the parking lot? > > > > Be careful if the lot is full of cars that seem to be growing > roots. Your > car > > may end up being one these. Many fall for the trap that if the > parking lot > is > > full this place must be good. The full parking lot may be caused by > poor > > scheduling and inability to get the work done in a timely manner. > > > > What does the building look like on the outside? > > > > Is it clean and appealing? If a business owner takes pride in his > work it > is > > usually reflected in the appearance of his business. > > > > What does the customer waiting area look like? > > > > Is it clean and comfortable? This will show how much the business > cares > about > > you as a customer. > > > > What does the work area look like? > > > > Is it clean and well organized? Again boils down to pride and care > in > work. > > > > Does the shop appear to be well equipped to handle your needs? > > > > Do you see newer equipment? Do they have lifts? Do they have modern > > diagnostic equipment to handle your tough to solve problems? > > > > Ask about the experience and training of the shop owner and the > technicians > > who will be doing the repairs. > > > > How many years on VW's or German cars? Are they ASE certified in > the area > > that they will be performing the repair? How committed are they to > furthering > > their education and training? > > > > Is the owner or service writer friendly? Do you feel that you can > communicate > > with them so that you are BOTH under the same level of > understanding? > > > > This is where most transactions fall apart. Lack of communication. > It is > the > > shops job to educate you so that you know what they are talking > about. It > is > > YOUR responsibility to ask questions when you don't understand. > > > > Now for the most important question. > > > > Do you trust and feel comfortable with the people wish to start a > business > > relationship with? > > > > This just boils down to personalities and gut instinct. Do you > trust the > > people or not? If you don't, go elsewhere. You will be doing both > you and > the > > shop owner a favor. > > > > If you are comfortable with all the above then schedule the work. > If not > keep > > looking. Just because your friend thought a certain shop was great > doesn't > > guarantee that you will think the same. > > > > When the repair order is written ask for an estimate. Here in CA it > is the > > law, but in other states it is very lax. Many times an initial > inspection > or > > diagnosis may have to be quoted at first. Then a revised estimate > can be > > given when the shop knows exactly what needs to be done. Most shops > now > > charge for diagnoses and this is normal. Guess work and throwing > parts at > a > > problem is NOT what you want. > > > > If you don't have a problem now, now is the time to establish a > relationship > > with someone you can trust. It is much easier to make decisions > when you > are > > not under pressure and stress because your car is broke down. Then > when > you > > do have a problem your thoughtful and careful research is done. > Odds are > === message truncated ===

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